7-year-old mauled to death by dog in Lowell

Lowell Police responded to a report of an injured child at a home on Clare Street in Lowell at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Upon arrival, authorities found a 7-year-old boy, but officials say he was already dead. Preliminary investigation suggests the boy entered a fenced area and was attacked by two pit bulls on the other side.

Neighbors were frantically calling 911, watching in horror as the child was attacked. Once police arrived, they shot one of the pit bulls, but it continued to come at the officer, and then ran off wounded.

Records of the 911 call with a Lowell Police officer are chilling.

OPERATOR: Clare Street getting multiple 911 calls, a child’s being attacked by some sort of animal
OPERATOR: Lowell can you head that way too? Apparently the dog will not let go of the child.
OFFICER: Lowell, get the paramedic over here,
OFFICER: Lowell, shots fired, the dog is hit, it’s still coming at me.

On Sunday morning investigators were going door to door asking questions about what people had seen in the moments leading up to the attack.

Neighbors say the 7-year-old boy was playing with his older brother, and was either trying to pet the dog or jumped the fence before being mauled. Authorities are working to figure out if the boy jumped the fence or if he was pulled in.

Following the attack, one of the pit bulls escaped the enclosed area, but was found and euthanized shortly after.

Animal control currently has the other dog in custody.

The Middlesex County DA's Office says they will not be releasing the boy's name.